Ma'am vs. Miss

So I saw a woman drop a wad of cash tonight at a restaurant as she grabbed something out of her purse. I naturally said "ma'am you just dropped something" which caused my wife to tell me woman hate being called ma'am and I should have said miss. Really? She dropped a wad of cash and she would care how I addressed her?

Is ma'am an old school thing? Am I old? Should I conform and call woman I don't know that drop money miss?

Miss is for single women. Mrs. is for married women. Ma'am is respectful for any woman. Pretty sure your wife is wrong here.

I use Miss in all similar situations. It doesn't offend any younger women and older women seem to find it flattering.

Pinky sounds like an asshole

One time at a restaurant I said to the waitress "ma'am can I get another shot?" She replied "only if you never call me ma'am again."

That was the last time I've ever used that word

y2kMgrad wrote:One time at a restaurant I said to the waitress "ma'am can I get another shot?" She replied "only if you never call me ma'am again."

That was the last time I've ever used that word

So it's true

Ass Dan wrote:Pinky sounds like an asshole

Actually I think consensus is you sound like an asshole but whatever

Mmmmmmmm.... Pink asshole.

Snake Plissken wrote:Actually I think consensus is you sound like an asshole but whatever

"Ass Dan" didn't tip you off?

At least I'm not married to an asshole

"Ma'am" is the female equivalent of calling a male "sir". I don't get it much, but I hate being called sir by the few who do it(usually like early teenagers). I'm sure it's similar for women, especially considering that a woman's youth is more valuable than a man's.

Marc Summers wrote:"Ma'am" is the female equivalent of calling a male "sir". I don't get it much, but I hate being called sir by the few who do it(usually like early teenagers). I'm sure it's similar for women, especially considering that a woman's youth is more valuable than a man's.

If 'sir' is off-putting to you, how would you like to be addressed? beside asswipe, asshat, dipshit, shit4brains, nucky, hoke's bitch, etc?

I use "Ma'am" and have never thought much of it. I mean, I don't address women my age with that, and reserve that for people who are noticeably older than me, but I use it significantly more often than "Miss" and I also use "Sir" for males as well.

"Miss" is something I kind of only really use for the woman I'm dating (well I did on the last one). Some sort of flirty term of endearment, which might be why I don't call every girl "Miss."

I usually just say "hey ****!"

Your first mistake was caring what women think.

[quote="The Pantry"]
If 'sir' is off-putting to you, how would you like to be addressed? beside asswipe, asshat, dipshit, shit4brains, nucky, hoke's bitch, etc?[/quote

The reason "sir" is off putting is because I'm still in my 20s. Once I'm like 35+, there will be no issues.

I don't understand it when people take offense over terms that are meant to be polite and respectful. To me, it indicates that the person may have a thin skin and is easily offended. It makes me wonder if my time with them will be spent walking on egg shells while they look for something over which they can be offended. It's very off putting to me.

Women get offended by ma'am today because it makes them sound old. Or women hear it as yyou're calling me an old woman. Now I don't want to be called ma'am, but I understand the person is just being polite so it's not a big deal.

chicks need to lighten up..

intent matters - you intended it in a very respectful way and that's what is important. The PC police are ruining societal convention.

Yo, serving wench!

Robert J Sakimano wrote:chicks need to lighten up..

intent matters - you intended it in a very respectful way and that's what is important. The PC police are ruining societal convention.

We all know Bob would have pocketed the money and not said a word.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:chicks need to lighten up..

intent matters - you intended it in a very respectful way and that's what is important. The PC police are ruining societal convention.

This fucking guy. He gets it.

SpartanHT wrote:

This fucking guy. He gets it.

Bob is a kept man and very in-tune with societal convention...and whatever else his wife says is good for him.

The Pantry wrote:Bob is a kept man and very in-tune with societal convention...and whatever else his wife says is good for him.

you noticed?